Through the application of multi-isotope tracing, IsoSource model calculation, and microbial detection, the source of nitrate pollution in the lower reaches of the Fenhe River was screened, and the contribution rate of each source was calculated. The results showed that the main forms of nitrogen-containing substances in the lower reaches of the Fenhe River are NO3--N and NH4+-N and that the NO3--N content in 77.8% of the samples exceed the national drinking water standard. The abundance of denitrifying microorganisms in Jishan, Hejin, and the Fenhe River into the Yellow River is high, and many dominant bacteria participate in denitrification, resulting in nitrogen fractionation. The contents of δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- in the isotopes ranged from 5.30‰ to 12.90‰ and from 1.3‰ to 1.8‰, respectively. Manure and sewage were the main sources of nitrate in the Linfen section, accounting for 68% of the total nitrate source. In the Xiangfen section, the main sources of nitrate in the river were manure and sewage, at 37.5%, and agricultural fertilizer, at 37%. Agrochemicals are the main sources of nitrate in the Hejin section of the river, with a contribution ratio of 49.3%. |